An integrated photovoltaic roof can also look good on a traditional house. It does not have to imitate old roof tiles to form a coherent whole. A steel covering with regular divisions can bring order to the building form, and the cells do not require a separate mounting frame above the roof slope. However, it is worth preserving the building's proportions and choosing the flashings carefully. Before making a choice, it is also necessary to check whether any special appearance requirements apply to the house in question. Most often these concern the proportions of the roof slopes, the size of the eaves, the rhythm of the windows and the relationship of the roof to the façade. Changing the covering does not have to mean rebuilding all these elements. It is worth identifying what gives the building its recognisable character. This allows the new material to complement it, instead of accidentally changing the whole perception of the house.

A black photovoltaic roof does not have a single, fixed appearance. How it is perceived depends on the type of surface, the light, the viewing angle and the surroundings. Active fields can reflect the sky differently from passive steel, even if the whole was designed in a similar colour. An integrated system allows a calm form to be maintained without a mounting frame above the roof surface. It is worth assessing the actual materials, however, rather than expecting a completely matt panel in all conditions. Light reflection changes with the position of the sun and the observer. The brightness of the sky, the colour of the surroundings and the camera settings also matter. A roof photographed on a cloudy day can look different from one in low sun.